Jeannie was born in Sherman, Texas on November 25th, 1943, the daughter of James and Nan McKinney. She attended Sherman High School where she was a champion track-and-field athlete. Shortly after graduation, she moved to Washington, DC, where she served on the staff of Representative John Mark Slack, (D-WVA).
Jeannie’s roots were in Texas; her heart was in Washington. During her time working on Capitol Hill, she met Gary Bruno Garofalo on a blind date. The couple married on May 16th, 1969 settling in Northwest Washington and vacationing at their home in Nantucket.
Jeanne and Gary travelled widely during their 54 year marriage visiting six continents. Jeannie’s love of Italy, its language and culture, inspired her to found, along with Betsy Warren, TBL, Inc., an importer of luxury Italian leather goods.
Jeanne is survived by her husband, Gary, her brother, Elwood McKinney, of Fort Worth, Texas, her nephew, Scott McKinney of Dallas, Texas; her sons, Robert Garofalo (Jamie) of Nantucket, MA., John Garofalo (Carly) of Los Angeles, and her daughter, Anne Garofalo Paterno, of Washington, DC, as well as grandsons Charles Bruno Paterno, Valentino Mario Garofalo and Rocco Bello Garofalo.
Jeanne is also survived by hundreds of friends who mourn her loss and will miss her unending generosity and love without limits. As a close family friend described her, “She was phenomenal – sensitive on tough topics, gently guiding with the occasional Texas truism thrown in, and just overwhelmingly loving. There is not one part of my life that Jeanne didn’t touch, and I am all the better for it.”
Visiting hours will be at Joseph Gawler’s Sons on May 1, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on May 2nd at Holy Trinity Church, Georgetown, DC. A reception will follow at the McKenna Center adjacent to the church.
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